Transposing keyboard for pianos and accordions



Sept. 23, 1941. T. K. MOILLIE'E 2,257,060

TRMISPOSING KEYBOARD FOR PIANOS AND ACCORDIONS Filed April 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR TAGOJO TQ K. Noilhaf J W Attovney Sept; 1941-. 1'. K. MOILLIET 2,257,060

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD FOR PIANOS AND ACCORDIONS Filed April 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m v lo I q 7 i M "'0 'lll" il "WIN INVENTOR- 7/1 oc/o reK NoiUief, By

Attoracv Patented Sept. 23, 1941 TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD FOR PIANOS AND ACCORDIONS Theodore Keir Moilliet, Vavenby, British Columbia, Canada Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,563

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in transposing keyboards for piano accordions and the like. The primar object being to provide a device to amplify the transposition of music from one key to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary keyboard which may be moved laterally on the keyboard of a piano accordion, piano etc., to register the keys with the keys of the instrument, one, two or more keys higher or lower and thus raise or lower the pitch of the music a number of half tones as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a player may set the transposing keyboard to a desired key, said means will retain the device in position and may readily change from one position to another as desired.

With these and other objects in view that may appear while the description proceeds the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention in primary position in a piano keyboard.

Fig. 2 is another plan View showing the key setting device attached thereto on piano accordion.

Fig. 3 is an elevation partially in section showing constructional details.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partially in section,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more in detail to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through out the several views it will be seen the invention comprises an auxiliary keyboard composed of a plurality of keys l0, arranged in the usual manner. In Fig. l the auxiliary keyboard is shown applied to a piano keyboard l3, the keys being mounted in a frame H, which is slidable laterally in a secondary frame l2. The secondary frame 52 is arranged to be set permanently on the piano keyboard l3. The keys ID are each provided with a depending pin !4 which is slidable verticall in an aperture I5, in the frame H. The inner ends of keys IQ, are hinged in he frame ii, at 6, and are held in the raised or normal position by coil springs ll, mounted on pins M to give them clearance when sliding.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the device is shown adapted to a piano accordion keyboard. A stationary frame I2, is secured to the accordion structure and a movable frame II, is slidable thereon. Equalizing bars [9 and 29, are secured to the frame l2, and extend forward over the keys of the accordion. The bars l9 which register with the black keys are flat while the bars 29, which register with the white keys are bent as shown thus forming a uniform chromatic keyboard. The flat spring bars iii are stronger than the bent bars 20 in order to equalize the variation in pressure required on black and white keys of the instruments keyboard. This is specially true in case of the accordion owing to the small leverage.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a modification is shown wherein auxiliary keys ID, are constructed on spring metal strips 25, secured in the movable frame member H which is slidable in the slide or frame l2. The keys are reinforced and built up of black and white Celluloid or other suitable plastic to form a keyboard. The spring metal strips replace the hinge and the coil spring of the former construction and the pin is replaced with the knob 26 formed under the metal strips.

A retaining device is provided to hold the transposing keyboard in the required position and consists of a plate 28 secured to the stationar frame E2 or IE and is constructed with a number of slots 29, in the front edge thereof, said slots are arranged in spaced apart relation to each other equal to the distance on the keyboard of each of the different semi-tones. A catch member 39 is pivoted on the movable frame H or II and 3|, and the hooked end 32 engages one of the slots 29. Thus when the catch is in engagement with the slot the movable frame is held in fixed relation to the stationary frame. In order to move the keyboard to change the key or pitch of the music the catch is released and the frame moved up or down the required number of semi-tones and the catch again engaged with the corresponding slot.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the structure shown may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A transposing attachment for pianos or other musical instruments having conventional keyboards of black and white keys comprising a stationary frame adapted to fit over the keyboard of the instrument, a movable frame slidably mounted in said stationary frame and movable across the keyboard, a plurality of keys hingedly mounted on said movable frame having depending pins, fiat bars disposed on the black keys of the instrument keyboard adapted to be engaged by said pins, and equalizing bars disposed over the white keys of the instrument keyboard in elevated relation to the top of the white keys adapted to be engaged by said pins,

2. A transposing attachment for pianos or other musical instriunents comprising a stationary frame adapted to fit over the piano keyboard,

to engage the keys of the piano keyboard, and

keys on said strips for depressing the same.

3. A transposing attachment for pianos or other musical instruments comprising a stationary frame adapted to fit over the piano keyboard, a movable frame slidably mounted on said stationary frame, a plurality of keys hingedly mounted on said movable frame arranged to lie over and register with the keys of the instrument, means depending from said keys to engage the keys of the instrument, a notched strip secured to said stationary frame, and a pivoted catch carried by said movable frame adapted to engage with said notched strip to secure the movable frame in adjusted position.

4. A transposing attachment for pianos or other musical instruments comprising a stationary frame adapted to fit over the piano keyboard, a movable frame slidably mounted in said stationary frame and movable across the keyboard, a plurality of keys movably connected at one end to said movable frame and disposed above the instrument keyboard, equalizing bars disposed between said keys and the instrument keyboard, and pins integral with said keys and depending therefrom adapted to engage said equalizing bars when said keys are depressed.

THEODORE KEIR MOILLIET. 

